BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) -Though Virginia Tech defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor is the strongest player on the Hokies roster his career goals that have nothing to do with football.
He wants to be in federal law enforcement.
It’s a desire that came clear on April 16, 2007, when a student gunman on the Virgina Tech campus killed 32 people and then himself.
“I was actually in the building right across from Norris (Hall) and I saw the students running out and I saw the police rushing in and the FBI running in and that’s what solidified my decision that that’s what I wanted to do,” the 6-foot, 273-pound redshirt senior said.
The bravery and trust he saw police displaying was unforgettable.
football, but to a lesser degree.”
Taylor graduated with a degree in sociology and is working on second undergraduate degree in psychology. Last summer he did an internship with the New Jersey State Police.
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OOPS: In an 0-2 start to the season plagued by line mistakes, Virginia left guard Austin Pasztor got away with one when he was overcome with glee for a teammate against No. 15 TCU.
Javaris Brown had just caught a 56-yard touchdown pass, his first career points. Pasztor said he jogged off the field with Brown, caught up in congratulating him, and then realized he was supposed to be on the field when a cheer went up as Virginia made a two-point conversion.
“It felt pretty good,” Pasztor said of the points that made it 30-6, allowing the Cavaliers to avoid their first shutout since 1984. “Actually, I kind of forgot to go on the field for the extra point after that. It was a little emotional to finally score.
“They ran it behind where I was supposed to be,” he said. “I don’t think anyone really noticed until the guys who were on came off and they were like, `Where were you?”’
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ONE FOR THE THUMB? Miami has faced 152 programs in its history. Georgia Tech is close to doing something only seven of those schools have managed against the Hurricanes.
h straight time.
According to records in the Miami football media guide, Notre Dame won 11 straight against the Hurricanes from 1967-80. Alabama won 10 straight (1962-79) and three schools – Florida State (1963-72), Florida (1971-77) and LSU (1946-66) – have won seven in a row.
Kentucky also beat Miami five times in a row from 1948 through 1959.
Georgia Tech heads into the game leading the all-time series with the ‘Canes 10-4.
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LEGAL TENDER: Dabo Swinney thought some of Georgia Tech’s trickery last Thursday night was illegal and Clemson’s first-year coach says the Atlantic Coast Conference agreed.
In a 30-27 loss to No. 14 Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets scored on a pass off a fake kick in the opening quarter. When it happened, Swinney thought the 34-yard TD pass from kicker Scott Blair to Demaryius Thomas was not a legal play. The receiver remained on the field while the rest of his teammates were subbed for the kicking team.
Thomas remained near the sidelines and easily snuck by Clemson’s defenders.
Swinney said the play violated substitution rules.
Swinney said Tuesday he’d communicated with the ACC’s supervisor of officials, Doug Rhoads, and was told Georgia Tech’s play was illegal.
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CAPTAIN MORGAN(S): Georgia Tech has selected three permanent team captains, and there’s not a senior in the bunch.
Quarterback Josh Nesbitt, defensive end Derrick Morgan and safety Morgan Burnett were picked by their teammates to serve as captains the rest of the season. All three are juniors.
The choices weren’t surprising. Nesbitt is the leader of the spread option offense, while Morgan and Burnett are the two most prominent players on defense. The Yellow Jackets didn’t have many more experienced choices – there are only six scholarship seniors on the roster.
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TIME TO LINE UP: North Carolina safety Deunta Williams isn’t quite getting into the action like usual. The junior was among the team’s top tacklers last season with 65 in 13 starts, but he’s managed just three stops in two games, though he does have two interceptions.
When asked if his tackling numbers means his teammates up front are playing better, Williams sounded ready to get closer to the line of scrimmage.
“I was kidding with (defensive tackle) Marvin (Austin) that I’m going to have to start lining up and putting my hand on the ground a little bit,” Williams said.
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AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds in Miami, Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, S.C., Paul Newberry in Atlanta and Aaron Beard in Chapel Hill, N.C. contributed to this report.
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